Shekhar Gupta: Courts of divine jurisdiction

Awful religious practices need to be abolished. But by social and political reformers, not courts

The Hindutva leaders in Kerala must be daft. Or gifted with a wickedly brilliant sense of humour. Why else would they protest against the Supreme Court’s order to allow the entry of all women, including those in the menstruating age of 10 to 50 years, into the Sabarimala temple of Lord Ayyappa, the son of Lord Shiva and Mohini, the female manifestation of Lord Vishnu? Instead, they should be sending the judges bouquets and blessings.

Because, with one 4-1 Constitution Bench order, however well-meaning, the Supreme Court has gifted Hindutva something two generations of RSS-Jan Sangh-BJP leaders had failed at: